The Land
by Mildred D. Taylor
Published by Speak, 2004
Age level 12 and up
Paul Edward Mitchell is the son of a white land owner and an African-American slave in the years immediately following the Emancipation Proclamation. His childhood has been somewhat sheltered; he has grown up with his white brothers to protect him on his father's land, the idyllic place he calls home. However, his life begins to change when he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an African American sharecropper on his father's land named Mitchell and his brother and best friend, Robert goes away to school. Through a series of events that cause him great hurt and pain, Paul Edward learns the hard way that just because he's the son of a white man does not mean that he will ever be considered his family's equal. Together, he and Mitchell set out on their own to make their own way, and for Paul Edward, to accomplish the dream of owning his own land. This book is near perfect--the characters are so well drawn they feel like best friends, the dialogue is sometimes uncomfortably accurate for the time period (the author admits to doing this on purpose so as not to shy away from what this period in time was like for African-Americans and those of mixed racial heritage), and the story is moving and poignant. I couldn't stop turning the pages. The author has based the plot on real stories told by members of her
family that have been passed down through generations and this lends an incredible air of authenticity to the novel. Though students might be jarred by some of the language in the book (the N word is used repeatedly), it's important they understand what this era was truly like in as sensitive a manner as possible: Taylor absolutely accomplishes this. Nobody is perfect in this evenly told tale that will leave you thinking long after you wipe your tears away!
Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America
By Sharon Robinson
Published by Scholastic Press, 2004
Ages 9-12
Promises to Keep is, in the author's own words, a photographic biography of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. The author set out to write this book because she felt that prior biographies of her father were incomplete; she wanted a more well rounded picture, not only of her father, but of the time in which he lived. The book starts even before her father was born, giving the history of the time period, in particular the position of African Americans in American society. It follows not only his baseball career, but also all he did to fight for social justice and "equality of opportunity for all people". Students will be surprised to see how active Jackie Robinson was outside of baseball! There are wonderful
pictures to accompany her informative text, including letters written by her father. She refers to her father throughout the book as Dad and this lends a personal and almost confidential tone to the picture book that I found endearing.
The Adventures of Marco Polo
By Russell Freedman
Published by Arthur A. Levine, 2006
Ages 9-12
Though most of us hear his name first in a pool or the ocean, Marco Polo's contributions to history range far beyond his entertainment value as a water game! Marco Polo was known as "the man of a million lies"--so much so that friends and family gathered around his deathbed asking him to confess! He claimed to have traveled all over the world for approximately 3 and half years as an envoy of the great Kublai Khan. He documented his travels in a book called The Description of the World. This picture book biography explores the travels of Marco Polo as documented and whether or not his tales could have been true. Accompanied by wonderful maps and actual illustrations from history, this book is a fascinating read. The author makes no definitive decision but presents cases for both sides by researching and sharing what other documentation from history tells us about the places Marco Polo traveled. Students will be
captivated by the "did he or didn't he" theme and will hang onto each little chapter hoping to make up their own minds. In case you're wondering, Marco Polo claimed until his last breath that his accounts were true.
Susan Allen's Picks
Casey Over There By Staton Rabin Illustrated by Greg Shed Harcout Childrens Books, 1997 Ages 4-8 This is a re-aloud picture book about Aubrey, a seven year old boy whose brother Casey who goes off to fight in WWI. The story contrasts the life of the young boy’s family in Brooklyn New York in 1917 and his brother’s life in the trenches. When Casey’s letters stop coming, Aubrey decides to write to Uncle Sam to ask him “Are you done with him yet” and receives a response from the President. Beautiful illustrations.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg By Rodman Philbrick Scholastic Publishing, New York, 2009 Ages 9-12 As contradictory as it may seem, this is a humorous book about the Civil War. Homer P. Figg sets off to rescue who has been illegally sold to the Union Army. His adventures introduce him to a range of interesting characters typical of the era. Although the book it told through exaggerations, it does relay facts and events of the civil war, touching upon the horrors of that war, slavery and other issues of that time period.
Chains By Laurie Halse Anderson Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008 Ages 10+ Isabel is a 13 year old slave who along with her sister is sold to a cruel New York loyalist couple. She is is given the opportunity to spy for the revolutionary cause. This book is different than many historical fiction stories of this time period because it does not glorify the causes of the patriots vs. the British. It tells both the story of the young girls struggles and the countries struggles.
Elizabeth's Picks
Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Ronald Himmler. New York: Clarion Books. 1996. Grades 2-6.
This is a story about fourteen orphans who rode The Orphan Train – a project of the Children’s Aid Society of New York which transported about 100,000 orphaned children from New York City to the Midwest between the mid 1850’s and the late 1920’s. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl as she rides on the train with thirteen others. We slowly learn that her mother brought her to the orphanage some years ago but promised to return after she had made a new life for them out west. The girl’s hope, at each stop along the way, is that her mother will appear to reclaim her. By the last stop she has realized that her mother likely will not appear, and also feels the pain of being the only orphan left – all the others having been chosen along the way. This is a hard story to read; it is heartbreaking. But it is one that would likely cause many children to pause and wonder that such a thing happened as well as raise questions about how the children fared.
That Book Woman by Heather Henson. Illustrated by David Small. New York: Atheneum Books. 2008. Grades 1-4.
This is the story of one young Kentucky boy’s transformation from someone uneducated and wary of books and the people who read them to someone who learns to read and appreciate books and the people who make them available to even the poorest. Based on the Pack Horse Library Project founded during the Great Depression as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration, the point of the project was to bring books to remote regions where there were few schools and no libraries. In the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, these librarians on horseback – mostly women – would brave all kinds of weather and rough riding to bring books to people such as the family in this story. Small’s gentle watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the boy’s intitial hostility and subsequent curiosity and admiration for this brave librarian. The story is told in free verse and the words are sparse but convey plenty about the boy and his life in the mountains. An author’s note provides wonderful background information on the Pack Horse project.
Dolley Madison Saves George Washington by Don Brown. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 2007. Grades 2-4.
This is the story of how Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison, saved the portrait of George Washington that was painted by Gilbert Stuart. The book contains many interesting facts about Mrs. Madison – that she began as a simple farm girl, was related to George Washington, threw a party for Lewis and Clark before they set out on their famous expedition – and also about the times – that England and America were engaged in a war, that the british tried to burn Washington, D.C. to the ground, and the president fought with his army. The illustrations are gentle watercolor, and the famous portrait stands out as it is an actual reproduction inserted into the pictures.
Susan Shatford's Picks
Morrow, Barbara Olenyik. A Good Night for Freedom. illus. by Leonard Jenkins. New York, NY: Holiday House, 2004. Grade Levels: 1-4
One child’s exposure of the Underground Railroad is depicted in this moving piece of historical fiction. Hallie meets runaway slaves, Susan and Margaret, in Levi and Katy Coffin’s basement. When Hallie realizes that the slave catchers were looking for the girls, she confronts Katy. Rather than get try to stop Hallie, Katy invites her in to have a chat with the two girls so that she will come to understand that they have chosen freedom even though it has its cost. The girls inform Hallie that they wish to someday buy their mother’s freedom. Hallie must decide whether she will listen to her understanding but frightened father or the courageous Coffin’s. Levi was known to be the President of the Underground Railroad and he helped Susan and Margaret along with about two thousand other slaves escape to freedom in Canada. The illustrator's use of dark stormy skies helps to show the volatility of the times.
Wallner, Alexandra. Abigail Adams. New York, NY: Holiday House, 2001. Grade Levels: K-3
This biography tells the story about our country’s second “first lady.” From a young age, Abigail realized that her father’s library was her favorite place to be. Even though she was taught to read and write at home, Abigail still longed to read and learn everything that she could. She thought that it was very unfair that girls weren’t allowed to go to school. While visiting relatives in Boston, Abigail met a young, curious, and worldly man known as John Adams, who she later married. Abigail was a wonderfully supportive wife and mother, in addition to being ahead of her time with her views against slavery and women’s rights. Unfortunately, John dismissed his wife’s ideas, but that never stopped Abigail. We are fortunate to know so much about this spirited lady through the more than 2,000 letters of hers that have survived.
McDonald, Megan. Saving the Liberty Bell. illus. by Marsha Gray Carrington. New York, NY: Atheneum Books, 2005. Grade Levels: K-3
This charming picture storybook has the main character, John Jacob Mickley, telling his family, after-the-fact, his secret mission that led to saving the Liberty Bell. With the threat of the approaching British, the American people were afraid that the British would take their metal and melt it down for cannons and musket shot. In an effort to safeguard a symbol of our countries liberty, the bell was discretely removed from its tower and placed in John’s wagon. It was covered with dirt, straw, hay and manure to hide it. While the author’s note tells that there was some controversy over who actually brought the Liberty Bell to its hiding place in the church, history finally tells us that John Jacob Mickley’s wagon took it as far as Bethlehem, PA. This piece of historical fiction is sure to help young readers see the great risks many individuals were willing to take to preserve liberty.
Tracy's Picks
Weatherford, Carole Boston.Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins.New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005.Ages 7-12 Every week, Connie went shopping downtown with her mother. During their shopping trip, they would take a break at the five-and-dime. Connie and her mother would stand as they drank their Cokes because they were not allowed to sit at the lunch counter. Everyone Connie knew obeyed the signs that told them where they could and couldn't go. Everyone obeyed except her great-aunt Gertie from New York who was “too old for silly rules.” During one of their shopping trips, Connie and her mother made their usual stop at the snack bar. Sitting at the counter were four of Connie’s brother’s friends ordering coffee and a doughnut. The waitress refused to serve them, the manager retrieved a policeman, and Connie and her mother were ushered out of the store as the manager closed it. News of the sit-in made the next day’s newspaper, and soon hundreds more had joined the effort. Connie, too young to participate herself, watched the life changing events play out on television. Freedom on the Menu beautifully tells the story of the 1960 civil rights sit-ins through the eyes of a young Southern girl.McDonough, Yona Zeldis.The Doll with the Yellow Star.New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2005.Ages 7-12 Claudine’s eighth birthday is wonderful. She wakes to a bowl filled with steamed milk, and her baguette is spread with butter (a rarity since the war began). Despite the war and her parents’ predictions that they would not be able to give Claudine a gift this year, Claudine receives the most wonderful doll ever. Claudine has other dolls, but those dolls are either grown-up or babies. This doll appears to be the same age as Claudine. Claudine names her confidant and new best friend Violette. Living in occupied France, Claudine is forced to wear the yellow star that identifies her as being Jewish. Upon returning home from her first day wearing the star in public, Claudine makes a yellow star which she sews on Violette’s cloak. Things are becoming increasingly more dangerous in France, and Violette’s parents arrange for her to go to America and stay with her Aunt. Claudine’s parents relent and let her bring Violette on the journey to America, but after a fire on the ship, Claudine arrives in a strange country alone without her parents or her best friend. Claudine is relieved that in America she no longer has to wear the horrid yellow star, but misses and fears for her parents and her best friend.
Cline-Ransome, Lesa.Young Pelé Soccer’s First Star.New York: Schwartz and Wade Books, 2007.Ages 4-8 During school, young Edson do Nascimento’s mind always wandered to thoughts of soccer. He memorized scores from soccer matches and practiced kicking an imaginary soccer ball. Edson and a group of boys formed a team which they named September 7 after Brazil’s national day of independence. They practiced around town using Edson’s ball (a sock stuffed with rags and tied with string) and challenged passersby to matches. One afternoon at practice, someone called Edson “Pelé”, and soon everyone was calling him that. Because the boys could not afford shoes, the September 7 became known around town as The Shoeless Ones. As word of Pelé’s talent spread, other teams with better coaches and more beautiful uniforms tried to convince Pelé to play for them, but he remained loyal to his friends. Vibrant oil paintings wonderfully capture the mood of this story that teaches us that great things can come from humble beginnings.
Deborah's picks!
Kate McMullan, My Travels with Capts. Lewis and Clark by George Shannon. Illus. by Adrienne Yorinks. HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2004. Ages 12 and up.
This novel is a series of journal entries written by sixteen-year-old George Shannon, McMullan's ancestor who rode on the expedition with Lewis and Clark. She had always remembered his name being mentioned at family gatherings when she was young and she soon became fascinated with his life. She decided to write this novel using his journal entries and fill in the blanks with information she had learned through her research about the journey and the times. The book begins with a letter from George's Ma saying that the journal is a birthday present for his sixteenth birthday. It ends with a phrase. "In writing of your days, may you come to know your heart." George is about to embark on a trip from Philadelphia to the Pacific Ocean. Capt. Lewis notices that George has a journal and asks him to write honestly about what happened on the trip. Each entry gives insight into how the days on the trail with Lewis and Clark were spent, trials and hardships they experienced along the journey lasting from July 1803 to November 1805. Some entries include the pen and ink drawings of Adrienne Yorinks. These simple depictions of maps, weapons, and other interesting items that George used along the trail are inserted into certain journal entries and so appear to be the scribbling of George himself. Short, believable entries along with these drawings will surely hold the interests of young and struggling readers alike. Children will learn about the challenges faced by the members of the expedition as they had to overcome disease, hunger, weather, insects, and carrying their boats across land. This helps students to realize the courage and determination necessary for these people to continue and survive. Westward Expansion and the struggles of the brave men and women who attempted the trip are a fascinating chapter in our nation's history.
Based on a true story, this is a touching story about an eleven-year-old girl named Grace McFarland who was a child during the Great Depression. The story begins right before Christmas in 1932, when Grace’s struggling parents lose their home and cannot properly care for her and her younger brothers. They are placed in an emergency home for children in these circumstances. Grace tries to understand her parents’ reasons for giving them up as she begins to adjust to new her life away from home. This doesn’t last long since she is invited to spend the holidays with a family who treats her like a daughter. Her visit lasts four years during which time she grows close to her new “fairy tale” family and comes to enjoy her new life. Her joy is mixed with feelings of love and loyalty for her own family and she begins to wonder if she’ll want to go back when the time comes. Children will be encouraged by this story that took place during a dismal time in history for many Americans, and realize that even when things seem to be the most hopeless, they shouldn’t get discouraged because good can come to them in the end. They should never give up hope.
Kathryn Lasky. A Voice of Her Own The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Post. Illus. by Paul Lee. Candlewick Press: Cambridge, 2003. Gr.3-6.
The year is 1761 and a young African girl who has been kidnapped from her family and brought by ship to America with no family or name, is sold to the Wheatley family of Boston. They named her Phillis, after the ship that transported her there. The Wheatleys treated Phyllis more like family than a servant. Seeing that Phillis loved to learn, they encouraged her, though New Englanders preferred that slaves remain illiterate. Phillis went on to become the first African American woman poet. On May 6, 1774, her first published books arrived in Boston Harbor, three weeks before the British ordered a blockade and the Revolutionary War was about to begin. This story is one of perseverance and courage and the spirit to survive. Lee’s illustrations effectively show all of this on the face of Phillis. His portrayal of a tumultuous time in American history captures those moments is realistic and moving. Children can learn from Phillis’ drive and determination that led her to “a voice of her own”.
Mia R's Picks
Patterson, Katherine. Blueberries for the Queen. New York: HarperCollins, 2004. Grade Level: K-3
It is 1942 and William’s parents and brother, Roger, all do work to help with the war, but William is too young. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her family move into an estate close to the farm where William lives. He has a vivid imagination and dreams of Queens in crowns and robes, and knights and daring deeds. Susan Jeffers’ illustrations help us to see what he is imagining as well as the reality of life. When the blueberries are ripe he and his father pick some and his father says that it is “peace” work. William really wants to meet the queen, so one morning he picks a basket of blueberries just for her so that she won’t be sad. Roger laughs and says he will not be able to see the Queen. But he does, only she’s not wearing her crown and robes, she’s disguised as a grandmother! This story is based on the true relocation in 1942 of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, her daughter Princess Juliana and two granddaughters Beatrix (the present Queen) and Irene to the Lloyd estate in Lee, Massachusetts. John Patterson from Connecticut was visiting his aunt and uncle in Lee and brought blueberries which he gave to the Queen. This gentle book shows the type of war work that was done on the home front but also shows the importance of peace work and how one little boy was able to contribute. Apart from being a good story, I enjoyed this book because I learned something new, that Queen Wilhelmina came to Massachusetts.
Thomas, Peggy. Farmer George Plants a Nation. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Calkins Creek, 2008. Grade Level: 3-6
This biography of George Washington focuses on his role as a farmer first but draws parallels with his role as a president. It details his agricultural work at Mount Vernon and inventions and innovations with many quotes from his dairies. He believed in sharing his agricultural improvements with his neighbors. Although this is a picture book it contains a wealth of information about George Washington including at the end a timeline, information about Mount Vernon, his thoughts on slavery and where to find out more about Mount Vernon. The bibliography contains books, articles and web sites. Layne Johnson’s illustrations give the book an 18th century feel. George Washington designed a new plow that combined three jobs and the illustration shows what it looked like. I enjoyed this book for the wealth of information, including excerpts from his diaries, and because the focus was on his work as a farmer.
Kerley, Barbara. The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins : an illuminating history of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, artist and lecturer : true dinosaur story in three ages .... New York: Scholastic, 2001. Grade Level: 2-5
This book tells the story of B. Waterhouse Hawkins who was an English artist and sculpture. After many years hard work, he created life-size models of dinosaurs. Nobody at that time was sure what they looked like, but with the help of scientist Richard Owen, Waterhouse created models that best represented what they believed to be the dinosaurs’ appearance. His models were placed in the Crystal Palace, England, in 1854. He visited America to create models in Central Park, New York, but his efforts were shattered by the corrupt politician William “Boss” Tweed. This book has extensive author and illustrator notes giving the background information and inspiration for this story. The illustrator, Brian Selznick, was able to view primary sources to help him recreate the Waterhouse’s dinosaurs. The illustrations are richly dramatic and give a sense of the size of these animals. It is now known that the models were not accurate, but Waterhouse was an inspiration to early paleontologists. I was intrigued that dinosaur models were made so long ago and that they still exist – Selznick saw them in their current location in Crystal Palace Park, Sydenham, England. Waterhouse had a dream and followed it, and as such, is an inspiration for all children.
Britt's Picks
Myers, Laurie. Illustrated by Michael Dooling. Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog’s Tale. New York: Henry Hold and Company, 2002. Grades 3-6.
This is a historical fiction account of Lewis and Clark’s journey from the novel perspective of Lewis’ dog, Seaman. The story begins with the dog’s account of how he is bought by Lewis: “My life on the wharves was good, but I was a young dog and I yearned for more.” However, the book is not all fantasy, but based in actual historical episodes taken from Lewis’ journal. Each chapter of the book describes an event from the dog’s perspective, then concludes with a brief entry in Lewis’ own words about the event. This really makes the journal entries come to life for young readers who may become more interested in this historical event as a result of the focus on animals in this book. The afterward gives more historical information about Seaman and his journey with Lewis and Clark.
Maupin, Melissa. Benjamin Banneker . The Child’s World, 2000. Grades 3-6.
This biography of Benjamin Banneker is part of Journey to Freedom: The African American Library. It is a well-balanced biography with a combination of text, primary sources, and informational, captioned illustrations. The story begins by explaining the unusual circumstances of Benjamin Banneker’s birth as a free African-American with the story of his grandmother, an English woman named Molly Walsh who first buys, then frees and marries her own slave. The issue of slavery is depicted honestly yet appropriately for younger readers, and Banneker’s experiences as a youth and achievements as an adult are also well-described with the text and visual representations in the book. His achievements are the focus of the story, which describes his building of a clock by hand, predicting a solar eclipse, writing an almanac, and planning the city of Washington, D.C. There is a timeline of major events and a glossary to assist students in their understanding of this outstanding thinker and the times he lived in.
Wells, Rosemany. Wingwalker. Illustrated by Brian Selznick. New York: Hyperion, 2002. Grades 3-6.
Wingwalker is a story about a family whose life is uprooted by the Dust Bowl droughts. The story is told from the point of view of Reuben, the second grade-aged son in the family, who is teased at school and even by his own sister for being cowardly. He is afraid when he wins the lucky ticket to fly in a plane at the 1933 Oklahoma Air Race and hates the experience of flying. However, his airplane-loving father is proud of him and inspired by his son’s experience. When the father becomes unemployed, he finds a job as a wingwalker for a carnival in Minnesota. The family moves and finds a happy life among the carnival people and the mother is able to work as a cook. Among an unlikely group of characters, the family creates a new life and the young boy manages to face his fears to fly again, this time with his father. Students will be able to relate to the challenges of not fitting in, being teased, or having financial hardships while they also learn about this period of history.
Michelle's Picks
The Cats in Krasinski Square By Karen Hesse Illustrated by Wendy Watson Scholastic Press, New York: 2004 Grades 3-5 Historical Fiction
This picture book is narrated by a girl in Warsaw who, as we find out, escaped behind the wall and lives in Warsaw, pretending she is Polish, knowing she is Jewish. She befriends the abandoned cats who live in the Wall. She doesn’t have food to give them as she is barely surviving herself, but does give them love. These cats are friendly and used to have people to love. There is a plan to smuggle food to those behind the Wall (or inside the Ghetto) but the Gestapo finds this out and plans to have their dogs find the smugglers. So, this girl realizes that the cats can help. They gather the cats and let them loose in the train station. The dogs go after the cats, and not the people, the smuggled food gets into the Ghetto. The narrator of the story has lost her parents, and does not have much to eat, but realizes that those behind the wall have even less. It’s a story of survival, and even in the depths of horror, there is hope. The watercolor illustrations show additional details of how life was like during those times.
Houdini: World’s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King By Kathleen Krull Illustrated by Eric Velasquel Walker & Company, New York: 2005 Grades 1-5 Biography
This is a biography of Erik Weiss, who changed his name (and identity) to Houdini, in honor of Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, the French founder of modern magic. The book begins with a two page spread showing, in pictures and narration, the Milk Can Escape and says when it premiered, which was in 1908. It explains the act (but not how he did it, that’s a magical secret!). Houdini’s acts are intermixed in the story of his life. The story explains why he became an escape artist, and how he became such a success. The illustrations are what makes this biography just a wonderful read. They are so real. It’s like they are taken from photographs. Houdini the magician is on many of the pages introducing the story (the show, that is).
Across the Blue Pacific: a World War Ii Story By Louise Borden Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker Hougton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2006 Grades 2-6 Historical Fiction
This story begins in the year 1944. The narrator reminisces about when she was in elementary school, in 1944, when America was at war. Her next door neighbor, Ted, was a U.S. serviceman. She and her brother wrote letters to him, and later her class wrote letters to servicemen overseas, including Ted. Her fourth grade teacher draws a world map on one of the hallways, and she would look at it and picture where Ted was in the Pacific. In her town, everybody knew somebody who was a soldier or a sailor, but still the war was very far away. It was far away until the day Ted's family was notified that he was missing in action. He never returned home. The war wasn't so far away anymore. But, life does go on. It went on during the war and it went on after the war.
Heather's Picks:)
Brown, Don. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009.
Gr 2-4
This picture book/biography has kid appeal. The story primarily focuses on Roosevelt's childhood but does touch upon his achievements as police commissioner, Governor of New York and President. Brown does a nice job of depicting Roosevelt as a real boy, not a legend. Teedie had asthma and was sickly. His parents worked very hard to maintain his strength. But despite his problems Teedie was an intelligent an intellectually curious young man. Teedie rises above his health problems and strengthens his body, mind and character. It's very inspiring but it's also a fun book. Don Brown's own water color illustration are amusing and full of action.
Krull, Kathleen. Marie Curie (Giants of Science) illustrated by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking, 2007. Gr 4-8 At a time when women in most western countries could still not vote, Marie Curie discovered radium and polonium. She was the first woman to ever receive a Nobel prize and she won two, one for physics and one for chemistry. She worked side by side with her husband Pierre who set aside his own work when he realized his wife's research was more important. With the help of extended family the two of the managed to raise a family and change the history of science. In the end her work would be the cause of both Marie and Pierre's deaths. In this new biography author, Kathleen Krull, is part of the Giants of Science series. Krull never loses sight of her juvenile audience. She does a particularly good job of putting her life in historical context. Other biographies of Currie can tend to be dry. Krull's biography brings out Curies passion and curiosity. Kulikov's ink illustrations also help to humanize Curie, as the photos of her in most biographies are very stiff. This is not an easy reader and is not for younger kids. The language can be challenging (the word Paparazzi). Kruss also discusses Currie's affair with physicist Paul Langevin (Curie was by this time a widow but Langevin had and estranged wife). The affair which inspired public anger and antisemitic rage even though Curie was not Jewish. Overall this is a good book that offers important information and insight about a scientific luminary.
Love, D. Anne.The Puppeteer's Apprentice.New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2003.
Gr 3-6
Set in the Medieval England this is the story of 11 year old Mouse an orphan from birth, raised to be the scullery maid at Dunston Manor. But when the cruelty of the cook she works under becomes unbearable Mouse takes off with no plan. Eventually she meets a puppeteer and dreams of becoming his apprentice. This story is bound to capture the imagination of young readers, particularly girls. Love's story brings out the injustices and hard scrabble existence of the poor in Medieval England. Mouse is a great character, not a Lady in waiting but a wretched, poor child who has never caught a break. There is a very modern, democratic theme of rising above ones place in life by working hard and doggedly pursuing ones dreams. But the author's modern sentiment isn't too heavy handed; Mouse doesn't become a princess or hit the lottery. The use of Middle English is also restrained; there are a few “mayhaps” and an occasional “my lady” but just enough to help the reader remember the time period. The medieval setting makes Mouse's life as a traveling puppeteer all the more believable and dangerous.
Lauren's picks:
Schanzer, Rosalyn. George vs. George: the American Revolution as seen from both sides. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2004.
Illustrator: Rosalyn Schanzer
Target audience: 4th-8th grade
George vs. George : the American Revolution as seen from both sides
This authentic, collective biography compares and contrasts the lives of George Washington and King George III of England. The themes of this biography are multiple perspectives and honor. The engaging, colorful pictures enhance the text and are historically accurate and detailed. This biography will help students understand both sides of the American Revolution. I liked how this biography was very well-researched and included documented quotes and a bibliography.
Grimes, Nikki. Barack Obama: son of promise, child of hope. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008.
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Target audience: Kindergarten- 5th grade
Barack Obama : son of promise, child of hope
This biography about Barack Obama describes Barack's childhood, his education, and his life up until he was elected president of the United States. It also discusses how Barack had divorced parents of mixed race and how he struggled to find his identity, studied hard, and wanted to make the world a better place. The themes of this biography include hope and perseverance. The greater lesson for children who read this book is that education is important and that children should keep their hope alive because they can make a difference. The book also gives children the message that people of any race can become president of the United States. The watercolor illustrations and collages help to show how new things can be created from different pieces. I liked how this biography was told in the context of a mother telling her child about Barack Obama.
Dell, Pamela. Giles and Metacom: a story of Plimoth and the Wampanoag. Chanhassen, MN: Tradition Book Publishing, 2003.
Illustrator: Pamela Dell
Target audience: 4th-8th grade
Giles and Metacom : a story of Plimoth and the Wampanoag
This historical fiction story takes place in 1621 and is told in the first-person point of view of a young English boy, Giles, from the Plimoth (Plymouth) colony who gets to know a Native American boy named Metacom. During the first Thanksgiving, the English colonists invited the Wampanoag Indians to share a harvest feast with them in celebration of surviving the previous cold winter. Although Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a happy time when the Native Americans and English colonists ate together, this story shows that Thanksgiving is also considered to be a time of mourning by Native Americans. Giles starts off not trusting Metacom, but he gradually realizes that the colonists have hurt the Native Americans. The colonists have unwittingly stole from Native American burying ground, taken land, and spread European diseases. This book is helpful in showing students another point of view about Thanksgiving. A major theme in the book is diversity. The pictures consist of paintings and maps with captions that supply additional information about the time period. I also enjoyed reading the historical information at the back of the book, which included a glossary and a timeline.
Kailin's Picks
The Land
by Mildred D. Taylor
Published by Speak, 2004
Age level 12 and up
Paul Edward Mitchell is the son of a white land owner and an African-American slave in the years immediately following the Emancipation Proclamation. His childhood has been somewhat sheltered; he has grown up with his white brothers to protect him on his father's land, the idyllic place he calls home. However, his life begins to change when he strikes up an unlikely friendship with an African American sharecropper on his father's land named Mitchell and his brother and best friend, Robert goes away to school. Through a series of events that cause him great hurt and pain, Paul Edward learns the hard way that just because he's the son of a white man does not mean that he will ever be considered his family's equal. Together, he and Mitchell set out on their own to make their own way, and for Paul Edward, to accomplish the dream of owning his own land. This book is near perfect--the characters are so well drawn they feel like best friends, the dialogue is sometimes uncomfortably accurate for the time period (the author admits to doing this on purpose so as not to shy away from what this period in time was like for African-Americans and those of mixed racial heritage), and the story is moving and poignant. I couldn't stop turning the pages. The author has based the plot on real stories told by members of her
family that have been passed down through generations and this lends an incredible air of authenticity to the novel. Though students might be jarred by some of the language in the book (the N word is used repeatedly), it's important they understand what this era was truly like in as sensitive a manner as possible: Taylor absolutely accomplishes this. Nobody is perfect in this evenly told tale that will leave you thinking long after you wipe your tears away!
Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America
By Sharon Robinson
Published by Scholastic Press, 2004
Ages 9-12
Promises to Keep is, in the author's own words, a photographic biography of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. The author set out to write this book because she felt that prior biographies of her father were incomplete; she wanted a more well rounded picture, not only of her father, but of the time in which he lived. The book starts even before her father was born, giving the history of the time period, in particular the position of African Americans in American society. It follows not only his baseball career, but also all he did to fight for social justice and "equality of opportunity for all people". Students will be surprised to see how active Jackie Robinson was outside of baseball! There are wonderful
pictures to accompany her informative text, including letters written by her father. She refers to her father throughout the book as Dad and this lends a personal and almost confidential tone to the picture book that I found endearing.
The
Adventures of Marco Polo
By Russell Freedman
Published by Arthur A. Levine, 2006
Ages 9-12
Though most of us hear his name first in a pool or the ocean, Marco Polo's contributions to history range far beyond his entertainment value as a water game! Marco Polo was known as "the man of a million lies"--so much so that friends and family gathered around his deathbed asking him to confess! He claimed to have traveled all over the world for approximately 3 and half years as an envoy of the great Kublai Khan. He documented his travels in a book called The Description of the World. This picture book biography explores the travels of Marco Polo as documented and whether or not his tales could have been true. Accompanied by wonderful maps and actual illustrations from history, this book is a fascinating read. The author makes no definitive decision but presents cases for both sides by researching and sharing what other documentation from history tells us about the places Marco Polo traveled. Students will be
captivated by the "did he or didn't he" theme and will hang onto each little chapter hoping to make up their own minds. In case you're wondering, Marco Polo claimed until his last breath that his accounts were true.
Susan Allen's Picks
By Staton Rabin
Illustrated by Greg Shed
Harcout Childrens Books, 1997
Ages 4-8
This is a re-aloud picture book about Aubrey, a seven year old boy whose brother Casey who goes off to fight in WWI. The story contrasts the life of the young boy’s family in Brooklyn New York in 1917 and his brother’s life in the trenches. When Casey’s letters stop coming, Aubrey decides to write to Uncle Sam to ask him “Are you done with him yet” and receives a response from the President. Beautiful illustrations.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
By Rodman Philbrick
Scholastic Publishing, New York, 2009
Ages 9-12
As contradictory as it may seem, this is a humorous book about the Civil War. Homer P. Figg sets off to rescue who has been illegally sold to the Union Army. His adventures introduce him to a range of interesting characters typical of the era. Although the book it told through exaggerations, it does relay facts and events of the civil war, touching upon the horrors of that war, slavery and other issues of that time period.
Chains
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008
Ages 10+
Isabel is a 13 year old slave who along with her sister is sold to a cruel New York loyalist couple. She is is given the opportunity to spy for the revolutionary cause. This book is different than many historical fiction stories of this time period because it does not glorify the causes of the patriots vs. the British. It tells both the story of the young girls struggles and the countries struggles.
Elizabeth's Picks
Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Ronald Himmler. New York: Clarion Books. 1996. Grades 2-6.
This is a story about fourteen orphans who rode The Orphan Train – a project of the Children’s Aid Society of New York which transported about 100,000 orphaned children from New York City to the Midwest between the mid 1850’s and the late 1920’s. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl as she rides on the train with thirteen others. We slowly learn that her mother brought her to the orphanage some years ago but promised to return after she had made a new life for them out west. The girl’s hope, at each stop along the way, is that her mother will appear to reclaim her. By the last stop she has realized that her mother likely will not appear, and also feels the pain of being the only orphan left – all the others having been chosen along the way. This is a hard story to read; it is heartbreaking. But it is one that would likely cause many children to pause and wonder that such a thing happened as well as raise questions about how the children fared.
That Book Woman by Heather Henson. Illustrated by David Small. New York: Atheneum Books. 2008. Grades 1-4.
This is the story of one young Kentucky boy’s transformation from someone uneducated and wary of books and the people who read them to someone who learns to read and appreciate books and the people who make them available to even the poorest. Based on the Pack Horse Library Project founded during the Great Depression as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration, the point of the project was to bring books to remote regions where there were few schools and no libraries. In the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, these librarians on horseback – mostly women – would brave all kinds of weather and rough riding to bring books to people such as the family in this story. Small’s gentle watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the boy’s intitial hostility and subsequent curiosity and admiration for this brave librarian. The story is told in free verse and the words are sparse but convey plenty about the boy and his life in the mountains. An author’s note provides wonderful background information on the Pack Horse project.
Dolley Madison Saves George Washington by Don Brown. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 2007. Grades 2-4.
This is the story of how Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison, saved the portrait of George Washington that was painted by Gilbert Stuart. The book contains many interesting facts about Mrs. Madison – that she began as a simple farm girl, was related to George Washington, threw a party for Lewis and Clark before they set out on their famous expedition – and also about the times – that England and America were engaged in a war, that the british tried to burn Washington, D.C. to the ground, and the president fought with his army. The illustrations are gentle watercolor, and the famous portrait stands out as it is an actual reproduction inserted into the pictures.
Susan Shatford's Picks
Morrow, Barbara Olenyik. A Good Night for Freedom. illus. by Leonard Jenkins. New York, NY: Holiday House, 2004. Grade Levels: 1-4
One child’s exposure of the Underground Railroad is depicted in this moving piece of historical fiction. Hallie meets runaway slaves, Susan and Margaret, in Levi and Katy Coffin’s basement. When Hallie realizes that the slave catchers were looking for the girls, she confronts Katy. Rather than get try to stop Hallie, Katy invites her in to have a chat with the two girls so that she will come to understand that they have chosen freedom even though it has its cost. The girls inform Hallie that they wish to someday buy their mother’s freedom. Hallie must decide whether she will listen to her understanding but frightened father or the courageous Coffin’s. Levi was known to be the President of the Underground Railroad and he helped Susan and Margaret along with about two thousand other slaves escape to freedom in Canada. The illustrator's use of dark stormy skies helps to show the volatility of the times.
Wallner, Alexandra. Abigail Adams. New York, NY: Holiday House, 2001. Grade Levels: K-3
This biography tells the story about our country’s second “first lady.” From a young age, Abigail realized that her father’s library was her favorite place to be. Even though she was taught to read and write at home, Abigail still longed to read and learn everything that she could. She thought that it was very unfair that girls weren’t allowed to go to school. While visiting relatives in Boston, Abigail met a young, curious, and worldly man known as John Adams, who she later married. Abigail was a wonderfully supportive wife and mother, in addition to being ahead of her time with her views against slavery and women’s rights. Unfortunately, John dismissed his wife’s ideas, but that never stopped Abigail. We are fortunate to know so much about this spirited lady through the more than 2,000 letters of hers that have survived.
McDonald, Megan. Saving the Liberty Bell. illus. by Marsha Gray Carrington. New York, NY: Atheneum Books, 2005. Grade Levels: K-3
This charming picture storybook has the main character, John Jacob Mickley, telling his family, after-the-fact, his secret mission that led to saving the Liberty Bell. With the threat of the approaching British, the American people were afraid that the British would take their metal and melt it down for cannons and musket shot. In an effort to safeguard a symbol of our countries liberty, the bell was discretely removed from its tower and placed in John’s wagon. It was covered with dirt, straw, hay and manure to hide it. While the author’s note tells that there was some controversy over who actually brought the Liberty Bell to its hiding place in the church, history finally tells us that John Jacob Mickley’s wagon took it as far as Bethlehem, PA. This piece of historical fiction is sure to help young readers see the great risks many individuals were willing to take to preserve liberty.
Tracy's Picks
Every week, Connie went shopping downtown with her mother. During their shopping trip, they would take a break at the five-and-dime. Connie and her mother would stand as they drank their Cokes because they were not allowed to sit at the lunch counter. Everyone Connie knew obeyed the signs that told them where they could and couldn't go. Everyone obeyed except her great-aunt Gertie from New York who was “too old for silly rules.” During one of their shopping trips, Connie and her mother made their usual stop at the snack bar. Sitting at the counter were four of Connie’s brother’s friends ordering coffee and a doughnut. The waitress refused to serve them, the manager retrieved a policeman, and Connie and her mother were ushered out of the store as the manager closed it. News of the sit-in made the next day’s newspaper, and soon hundreds more had joined the effort. Connie, too young to participate herself, watched the life changing events play out on television. Freedom on the Menu beautifully tells the story of the 1960 civil rights sit-ins through the eyes of a young Southern girl.
Claudine’s eighth birthday is wonderful. She wakes to a bowl filled with steamed milk, and her baguette is spread with butter (a rarity since the war began). Despite the war and her parents’ predictions that they would not be able to give Claudine a gift this year, Claudine receives the most wonderful doll ever. Claudine has other dolls, but those dolls are either grown-up or babies. This doll appears to be the same age as Claudine. Claudine names her confidant and new best friend Violette. Living in occupied France, Claudine is forced to wear the yellow star that identifies her as being Jewish. Upon returning home from her first day wearing the star in public, Claudine makes a yellow star which she sews on Violette’s cloak. Things are becoming increasingly more dangerous in France, and Violette’s parents arrange for her to go to America and stay with her Aunt. Claudine’s parents relent and let her bring Violette on the journey to America, but after a fire on the ship, Claudine arrives in a strange country alone without her parents or her best friend. Claudine is relieved that in America she no longer has to wear the horrid yellow star, but misses and fears for her parents and her best friend.
During school, young Edson do Nascimento’s mind always wandered to thoughts of soccer. He memorized scores from soccer matches and practiced kicking an imaginary soccer ball. Edson and a group of boys formed a team which they named September 7 after Brazil’s national day of independence. They practiced around town using Edson’s ball (a sock stuffed with rags and tied with string) and challenged passersby to matches. One afternoon at practice, someone called Edson “Pelé”, and soon everyone was calling him that. Because the boys could not afford shoes, the September 7 became known around town as The Shoeless Ones. As word of Pelé’s talent spread, other teams with better coaches and more beautiful uniforms tried to convince Pelé to play for them, but he remained loyal to his friends. Vibrant oil paintings wonderfully capture the mood of this story that teaches us that great things can come from humble beginnings.
Deborah's picks!
This novel is a series of journal entries written by sixteen-year-old George Shannon, McMullan's ancestor who rode on the expedition with Lewis and Clark. She had always remembered his name being mentioned at family gatherings when she was young and she soon became fascinated with his life. She decided to write this novel using his journal entries and fill in the blanks with information she had learned through her research about the journey and the times.
The book begins with a letter from George's Ma saying that the journal is a birthday present for his sixteenth birthday. It ends with a phrase. "In writing of your days, may you come to know your heart." George is about to embark on a trip from Philadelphia to the Pacific Ocean. Capt. Lewis notices that George has a journal and asks him to write honestly about what happened on the trip. Each entry gives insight into how the days on the trail with Lewis and Clark were spent, trials and hardships they experienced along the journey lasting from July 1803 to November 1805. Some entries include the pen and ink drawings of Adrienne Yorinks. These simple depictions of maps, weapons, and other interesting items that George used along the trail are inserted into certain journal entries and so appear to be the scribbling of George himself. Short, believable entries along with these drawings will surely hold the interests of young and struggling readers alike. Children will learn about the challenges faced by the members of the expedition as they had to overcome disease, hunger, weather, insects, and carrying their boats across land. This helps students to realize the courage and determination necessary for these people to continue and survive. Westward Expansion and the struggles of the brave men and women who attempted the trip are a fascinating chapter in our nation's history.
Based on a true story, this is a touching story about an eleven-year-old girl named Grace McFarland who was a child during the Great Depression. The story begins right before Christmas in 1932, when Grace’s struggling parents lose their home and cannot properly care for her and her younger brothers. They are placed in an emergency home for children in these circumstances. Grace tries to understand her parents’ reasons for giving them up as she begins to adjust to new her life away from home. This doesn’t last long since she is invited to spend the holidays with a family who treats her like a daughter. Her visit lasts four years during which time she grows close to her new “fairy tale” family and comes to enjoy her new life. Her joy is mixed with feelings of love and loyalty for her own family and she begins to wonder if she’ll want to go back when the time comes. Children will be encouraged by this story that took place during a dismal time in history for many Americans, and realize that even when things seem to be the most hopeless, they shouldn’t get discouraged because good can come to them in the end. They should never give up hope.
The year is 1761 and a young African girl who has been kidnapped from her family and brought by ship to America with no family or name, is sold to the Wheatley family of Boston. They named her Phillis, after the ship that transported her there. The Wheatleys treated Phyllis more like family than a servant. Seeing that Phillis loved to learn, they encouraged her, though New Englanders preferred that slaves remain illiterate. Phillis went on to become the first African American woman poet. On May 6, 1774, her first published books arrived in Boston Harbor, three weeks before the British ordered a blockade and the Revolutionary War was about to begin.
This story is one of perseverance and courage and the spirit to survive. Lee’s illustrations effectively show all of this on the face of Phillis. His portrayal of a tumultuous time in American history captures those moments is realistic and moving. Children can learn from Phillis’ drive and determination that led her to “a voice of her own”.
Mia R's Picks
Grade Level: K-3
It is 1942 and William’s parents and brother, Roger, all do work to help with the war, but William is too young. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her family move into an estate close to the farm where William lives. He has a vivid imagination and dreams of Queens in crowns and robes, and knights and daring deeds. Susan Jeffers’ illustrations help us to see what he is imagining as well as the reality of life. When the blueberries are ripe he and his father pick some and his father says that it is “peace” work. William really wants to meet the queen, so one morning he picks a basket of blueberries just for her so that she won’t be sad. Roger laughs and says he will not be able to see the Queen. But he does, only she’s not wearing her crown and robes, she’s disguised as a grandmother!
This story is based on the true relocation in 1942 of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, her daughter Princess Juliana and two granddaughters Beatrix (the present Queen) and Irene to the Lloyd estate in Lee, Massachusetts. John Patterson from Connecticut was visiting his aunt and uncle in Lee and brought blueberries which he gave to the Queen. This gentle book shows the type of war work that was done on the home front but also shows the importance of peace work and how one little boy was able to contribute. Apart from being a good story, I enjoyed this book because I learned something new, that Queen Wilhelmina came to Massachusetts.
Grade Level: 3-6
This biography of George Washington focuses on his role as a farmer first but draws parallels with his role as a president. It details his agricultural work at Mount Vernon and inventions and innovations with many quotes from his dairies. He believed in sharing his agricultural improvements with his neighbors. Although this is a picture book it contains a wealth of information about George Washington including at the end a timeline, information about Mount Vernon, his thoughts on slavery and where to find out more about Mount Vernon. The bibliography contains books, articles and web sites. Layne Johnson’s illustrations give the book an 18th century feel. George Washington designed a new plow that combined three jobs and the illustration shows what it looked like. I enjoyed this book for the wealth of information, including excerpts from his diaries, and because the focus was on his work as a farmer.
Grade Level: 2-5
This book tells the story of B. Waterhouse Hawkins who was an English artist and sculpture. After many years hard work, he created life-size models of dinosaurs. Nobody at that time was sure what they looked like, but with the help of scientist Richard Owen, Waterhouse created models that best represented what they believed to be the dinosaurs’ appearance. His models were placed in the Crystal Palace, England, in 1854. He visited America to create models in Central Park, New York, but his efforts were shattered by the corrupt politician William “Boss” Tweed. This book has extensive author and illustrator notes giving the background information and inspiration for this story. The illustrator, Brian Selznick, was able to view primary sources to help him recreate the Waterhouse’s dinosaurs. The illustrations are richly dramatic and give a sense of the size of these animals. It is now known that the models were not accurate, but Waterhouse was an inspiration to early paleontologists. I was intrigued that dinosaur models were made so long ago and that they still exist – Selznick saw them in their current location in Crystal Palace Park, Sydenham, England. Waterhouse had a dream and followed it, and as such, is an inspiration for all children.
Britt's Picks
This is a historical fiction account of Lewis and Clark’s journey from the novel perspective of Lewis’ dog, Seaman. The story begins with the dog’s account of how he is bought by Lewis: “My life on the wharves was good, but I was a young dog and I yearned for more.” However, the book is not all fantasy, but based in actual historical episodes taken from Lewis’ journal. Each chapter of the book describes an event from the dog’s perspective, then concludes with a brief entry in Lewis’ own words about the event. This really makes the journal entries come to life for young readers who may become more interested in this historical event as a result of the focus on animals in this book. The afterward gives more historical information about Seaman and his journey with Lewis and Clark.
This biography of Benjamin Banneker is part of Journey to Freedom: The African American Library. It is a well-balanced biography with a combination of text, primary sources, and informational, captioned illustrations. The story begins by explaining the unusual circumstances of Benjamin Banneker’s birth as a free African-American with the story of his grandmother, an English woman named Molly Walsh who first buys, then frees and marries her own slave. The issue of slavery is depicted honestly yet appropriately for younger readers, and Banneker’s experiences as a youth and achievements as an adult are also well-described with the text and visual representations in the book. His achievements are the focus of the story, which describes his building of a clock by hand, predicting a solar eclipse, writing an almanac, and planning the city of Washington, D.C. There is a timeline of major events and a glossary to assist students in their understanding of this outstanding thinker and the times he lived in.
Wingwalker is a story about a family whose life is uprooted by the Dust Bowl droughts. The story is told from the point of view of Reuben, the second grade-aged son in the family, who is teased at school and even by his own sister for being cowardly. He is afraid when he wins the lucky ticket to fly in a plane at the 1933 Oklahoma Air Race and hates the experience of flying. However, his airplane-loving father is proud of him and inspired by his son’s experience. When the father becomes unemployed, he finds a job as a wingwalker for a carnival in Minnesota. The family moves and finds a happy life among the carnival people and the mother is able to work as a cook. Among an unlikely group of characters, the family creates a new life and the young boy manages to face his fears to fly again, this time with his father. Students will be able to relate to the challenges of not fitting in, being teased, or having financial hardships while they also learn about this period of history.
Michelle's Picks
The Cats in Krasinski Square
By Karen Hesse
Illustrated by Wendy Watson
Scholastic Press, New York: 2004
Grades 3-5
Historical Fiction
This picture book is narrated by a girl in Warsaw who, as we find out, escaped behind the wall and lives in Warsaw, pretending she is Polish, knowing she is Jewish. She befriends the abandoned cats who live in the Wall. She doesn’t have food to give them as she is barely surviving herself, but does give them love. These cats are friendly and used to have people to love. There is a plan to smuggle food to those behind the Wall (or inside the Ghetto) but the Gestapo finds this out and plans to have their dogs find the smugglers. So, this girl realizes that the cats can help. They gather the cats and let them loose in the train station. The dogs go after the cats, and not the people, the smuggled food gets into the Ghetto. The narrator of the story has lost her parents, and does not have much to eat, but realizes that those behind the wall have even less. It’s a story of survival, and even in the depths of horror, there is hope. The watercolor illustrations show additional details of how life was like during those times.
Houdini: World’s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King
By Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by Eric Velasquel
Walker & Company, New York: 2005
Grades 1-5
Biography
This is a biography of Erik Weiss, who changed his name (and identity) to Houdini, in honor of Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, the French founder of modern magic. The book begins with a two page spread showing, in pictures and narration, the Milk Can Escape and says when it premiered, which was in 1908. It explains the act (but not how he did it, that’s a magical secret!). Houdini’s acts are intermixed in the story of his life. The story explains why he became an escape artist, and how he became such a success. The illustrations are what makes this biography just a wonderful read. They are so real. It’s like they are taken from photographs. Houdini the magician is on many of the pages introducing the story (the show, that is).
Across the Blue Pacific: a World War Ii Story
By Louise Borden
Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
Hougton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2006
Grades 2-6
Historical Fiction
This story begins in the year 1944. The narrator reminisces about when she was in elementary school, in 1944, when America was at war. Her next door neighbor, Ted, was a U.S. serviceman. She and her brother wrote letters to him, and later her class wrote letters to servicemen overseas, including Ted. Her fourth grade teacher draws a world map on one of the hallways, and she would look at it and picture where Ted was in the Pacific. In her town, everybody knew somebody who was a soldier or a sailor, but still the war was very far away. It was far away until the day Ted's family was notified that he was missing in action. He never returned home. The war wasn't so far away anymore. But, life does go on. It went on during the war and it went on after the war.
Heather's Picks:)
Brown, Don. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009.
Gr 2-4
Krull, Kathleen. Marie Curie (Giants of Science) illustrated by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking, 2007.
Gr 4-8
Love, D. Anne. The Puppeteer's Apprentice. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2003.
Gr 3-6
Lauren's picks:
Schanzer, Rosalyn. George vs. George: the American Revolution as seen from both sides. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2004.
Illustrator: Rosalyn Schanzer
Target audience: 4th-8th grade
This authentic, collective biography compares and contrasts the lives of George Washington and King George III of England. The themes of this biography are multiple perspectives and honor. The engaging, colorful pictures enhance the text and are historically accurate and detailed. This biography will help students understand both sides of the American Revolution. I liked how this biography was very well-researched and included documented quotes and a bibliography.
Grimes, Nikki. Barack Obama: son of promise, child of hope. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008.
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Target audience: Kindergarten- 5th grade
This biography about Barack Obama describes Barack's childhood, his education, and his life up until he was elected president of the United States. It also discusses how Barack had divorced parents of mixed race and how he struggled to find his identity, studied hard, and wanted to make the world a better place. The themes of this biography include hope and perseverance. The greater lesson for children who read this book is that education is important and that children should keep their hope alive because they can make a difference. The book also gives children the message that people of any race can become president of the United States. The watercolor illustrations and collages help to show how new things can be created from different pieces. I liked how this biography was told in the context of a mother telling her child about Barack Obama.
Dell, Pamela. Giles and Metacom: a story of Plimoth and the Wampanoag. Chanhassen, MN: Tradition Book Publishing, 2003.
Illustrator: Pamela Dell
Target audience: 4th-8th grade
This historical fiction story takes place in 1621 and is told in the first-person point of view of a young English boy, Giles, from the Plimoth (Plymouth) colony who gets to know a Native American boy named Metacom. During the first Thanksgiving, the English colonists invited the Wampanoag Indians to share a harvest feast with them in celebration of surviving the previous cold winter. Although Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a happy time when the Native Americans and English colonists ate together, this story shows that Thanksgiving is also considered to be a time of mourning by Native Americans. Giles starts off not trusting Metacom, but he gradually realizes that the colonists have hurt the Native Americans. The colonists have unwittingly stole from Native American burying ground, taken land, and spread European diseases. This book is helpful in showing students another point of view about Thanksgiving. A major theme in the book is diversity. The pictures consist of paintings and maps with captions that supply additional information about the time period. I also enjoyed reading the historical information at the back of the book, which included a glossary and a timeline.